Town of Rocky Hill
Board of Education
Facilities Committee
February 13, 2008
Minutes of Meeting
A meeting of the Facilities
Committee of the Rocky Hill Board of Education was held on Tuesday, February
13, 2008, in the Training/Conference room.
Present were: Committee Chair Charles Wisnioski, Committee Member
Jennifer Viggiano, Committee Member/Secretary Nadine Bell, Board Chair William
MacDonald, Catherine Vargas, Charles McMonigle, Frank Morse, Rene Rivard, Assistant
Superintendent Laura Boutilier, Director, Finance and Operations, Gregory P.
Turansky, and Interim Superintendent of Schools
Steven’s School PTO Request to Upgrade the Playscape
Equipment
Follow-up from the last meeting,
the Board of Education insurance company’s certified playground control
specialist indicated that the playground equipment (hemisphere climber) was
determined to be a huge liability especially if it is utilized after school or
on weekends. Parents requested that the
item be tabled in order to meet with Lisa Zerio, Director of Parks and
Recreation, to come up with a new recommendation and will check with the insurance
company. The new recommendation is to be
made at the next meeting.
A Proposal for Secondary Educational Programs and
Facility Utilization
In response to a previous
request, Interim Superintendent
Mr. Watson made a presentation
of the middle school proposal, indicating it is both a Blue Ribbon School and NELMS
spotlight school. The middle school’s
concept included dividing the grade levels into pods, providing areas for core
academic instruction. He explained that
the instructional pods contain a common area for multiple uses working with
students. Mr. Watson highlighted present
programs and services and identified some of the future programs and services
that are anticipated. Mr. Watson stated
that the Schoenhart Report indicated that GMS is approximately 19,000 square
feet short of recommended state guidelines.
He spoke to some of the space
problems highlighted in the report. Enrollment
projections indicate that in 2011-12, 685 children will attend GMS. It is recommended that there be one
additional mathematics classroom to accommodate classes so they do not exceed Board
guidelines. If World Language is
expanded to a full year of study in grade 6, two additional classrooms will be
needed. Regarding Special Education, four
of five teachers have undersized classrooms.
In order to accommodate growing needs, this will require one more
teacher and two additional classrooms. There
will be 80 elementary children in the instrumental music program moving up to
the middle school, resulting in the need for one classroom to accommodate. Both ESOL and Speech and Language programs are
currently held in closets. The
enrollment is expected to increase, resulting in a need for one classroom to be
shared by the two programs. One new computer
lab is needed to address the lack of availability. Language Arts teachers should have one
classroom for small group instruction and resource area. The Mathematics Department needs a resource
center. The size of the gymnasium is a
concern for programmatic and safety reasons.
On-site fields are preferable to traveling. There is a need for a larger gymnasium, two
soccer fields, one softball field, and one baseball field. GMS does not have an auditorium to
accommodate whole school assemblies or activities. Team rooms are designed for teacher work
rooms, if special education rooms are added, work rooms will be restored. The current area for in-school suspension is
inadequate as there are more in-school suspension students than anticipated as
a result of state prohibition of out-of-school suspensions. Per requirements, 93 parking spaces are
required, only 94 are available which results in no parking for parents during
major events.
Mr. Rivard inquired as to
whether or not the Blue Ribbon is a self study.
Mr. Watson responded yes. Mr.
Wisnioski asked if identified issues were addressed. Mr. Watson responded that yes, staffing
models had been completed
Mr. Wisnioski requested that
the information be more detailed before referring to professionals as stated at
the end of the report. He inquired as to
whether we are happy with the instructional pods, size, and the number of
classes or should the space be utilized differently. The number of issues should be addressed
before going to the professionals. It
was requested that we maximize the utility of current space on a daily basis
and that we prioritize the needs that have been identified.
An eight minute break
commenced at 7:05 p.m.
The committee resumed at 7:13
p.m.
Mrs. Hayward also reported
that the NEASC standards of accreditation and “Breaking Ranks” Guiding Beliefs
and Principles were reviewed in preparing the report.
She stated that thirty-three
percent (33%) of the staff floats within the school which is not always
feasible or desirable. This has become
difficult for students to find staff and to obtain extra help. The increased
graduation requirements may be mandated by the state which will result in a
significant impact on space. Teachers
should be able to collaborate and therefore subject area teachers should be
housed together rather than spread all over the school. She spoke to some of the space programs
highlighted in the report. The change in
graduation requirements would require more space. Additional mathematics graduation requirements
will require one additional classroom. Additional
science graduation requirements for a full year lab course will require one new
classroom and lab.
Currently, 8 mathematics teachers
share 6 classrooms. In order to
accommodate the additional graduation requirements, one additional classroom for
mathematics is needed. There currently
are 9 science teachers sharing 7 classrooms 5 of which are lab
appropriate. One additional science
classroom including lab space is needed.
Currently, there is no language lab which research shows is beneficial
in language acquisition. Currently,
there are 6 world language teachers sharing 4 classrooms. Two additional classrooms plus one language
lab is needed. Currently there are 7.4
social studies teachers who share 6 classrooms.
Additional space will be needed for social studies. She noted additional space was needed for
physical education/athletics to include one additional auxiliary gym, one small
instructional space and an enlarged fitness/weight room. She also reported that additional space was
needed for computer lab, expansion of cafeteria, additional office space and
conference room, additional locker space and locker rooms, and parking
space. One additional classroom for life
skills/transition program is needed. A
large room enough to accommodate internal suspension students is needed. She also highlighted that there is a need to
expand the guidance suite to accommodate the addition of a career center to
allow adequate space for students visiting the guidance offices.
Mrs. Parmelee-Blancato noted
that if space problems are noted by the NEASC study, the existence of a building
project plan would show NEASC that the school system is aware of the space
needs and hopes to address the concerns.
Peter Maxwell noted that
adding storage area is much cheaper than adding classroom space and inquired as
to whether current classrooms could be sub-divided to avoid creating new
classrooms.
He further stated that the
elementary school could be sold to the public now, however more research and
review is needed of the high school before a plan should be brought forward,
especially with a new superintendent arriving.
Mr. Wisnioski added that this
is the beginning of a process and will require a more detailed study.
Mr. MacDonald inquired if
there is a potential impact of the alternate high school program. Mrs. Parmelee-Blancato responded there is
benefit to having the program off-site and any impacts would need to be
studied. She added that until the Board
of Education decided on the fate of certain course offerings, those spaces
currently in use cannot yet be considered for re-use. Consideration of the increased graduation requirements
will be presented to the State Board by the Commissioner of Education in June
or September 2008.
Mrs. Parmelee-Blancato stated
that it is good that the Board is allowing administrators to review the
programmatic concerns and be part of the planning for the building
project.
The meeting adjourned at 8:17
p.m.
Respectfully submitted,
Gregory P. Turansky
Recording Secretary
APPROVED BY: _____________________________
DATE: ________________________